Favorites: Digital Art & Culture Publications

There are some really fantastic and beautifully made online magazines that talk about art, culture, and real life. These are my favorite, go-to sources for inspiration on art, and to just check out what cool people are doing around the world.

Check out the list. Have any more? Comment and share a link.

Note: This list definitely has an independent, street art shtick to it, because that’s my faveskis. If you’re into that, forge ahead. If not, feel free to share links to other sites, even if they’re not necessarily the same style. More art = always good.

Digital Art & Culture

1. Huck Magazine

Huck is a mag based in England. Their tagline is “Radical Culture & DIY Creativity.” Huck content is really well made, with beautiful videography, typography, and photography, yet still has that badass punk-street-level appeal. When a magazine really appreciates good design and good content, I can get down with that. They also offer way more than just articles.

Since they write about art culture, I guess it makes sense that it’s so well made. The whole experience is quite beautiful. My favorite way to kill half an hour (or a few) these days is getting lost in their YouTube channel.

They feature amazing interviews with all kinds of people, from surfboard carvers to street artists. I love the fact that they’ve just recently started a video series called “Show Your Work.” These are short 1-3 minute videos set to a sick soundtrack, showing someone working on their craft. No words, just a quick pint of inspiration. A painter paints, an illustrator illustrates, a seamstress makes an awesome Hawaiian-vintage-print pillow case.

The series is clearly a nod to Austin Kleon’s latest book by the same title, which no doubt inspired artists of all kind. The book tells us not to be shy about showing their work, and in fact by doing so, especially with the expansive reach of social media in modern times, helps build a the makings of a career over time. I like that Huck was as inspired by his book as I am, and probably vice versa. I’m sure Kleon would approve of the beauty coming out of their minds.

Check out their playlists for mo’ inspiration straight up, no chaser. Some faves: Working Artisans Club, Show Your Work, and Surf/Skate culture vids.

2. Hypebeast

Hypebeast would be the American equivalent to Huck, starting a year before (in 2005 as compared to Huck’s birth in 2006). The name is funny because usually I’ve heard a “hypebeast” used as a derogatory name for a kid who cares too much about sneakers and others’ opinons, and not enough about real shit (mostly in Eddie Huang’s book – waddup!)

Well, Hypebeast the magazine does care about some real shit. They promote underground and independent artists through regular features. Their YouTube page is also full of gems. They seem to have a lot more video content than Huck, and the quality is definitely comparable, but I do feel like Huck has the top-notch videography game on lock. #justsayin

That said, Hype’s still 100% worth browsing. The dopest is their interview series Pen & Paper. You get a chance to see inside an artist’s sketchbook, listen to them talk about their own inspirations, a little background, and how they work. That’s what I’m talking ’bout! (And is why I wrote this, for reals). Here’s one of my faves (street heavy, bb):

After that, get lost in their other incredible playlists, including: Others (prod. by Pharrell), Hypebeast roadtrips (will induce art-related travel bug), and the smoothest of success stories #Dropped (a series with a tagline: “Legends aren’t born, they’re dropped.”)

Plus many more I haven’t mentioned ready for exploring a new dimension. Cheers.

3. Inkygoodness

Also hailing from Europe (you guise are killin’ it), Inkygoodness is a team in the UK that puts on art gallery shows, while also maintaining an awesome-filled blog featuring artist interviews. A lot of print and whimsy, which I thoroughly enjoy.

What I like about them is that their whole bend is on illustrators and designers. It’s cool because you get a good mix of recent design program graduates and freelance illustrators who’ve forged impressive independent careers. Many of their interviews go really in depth, making them a fantastic read. Not only do you then get a really honed in view on an artist’s work and process, but you also get a better understanding of the human behind the pieces. You get to see what journey they took to get where they are, what art inspired them when they started out, what they feel their strengths and weaknesses are.

Inky’s helping me to expand my favorite artist vernacular, which is nice, while also learning about the hustle others forged. If I learn about why someone got into art, for example, I see it as an opportunity to better understand myself, as well as the world. Not too shabby [said in an English accent].